B. Historical-Critical Methodcampus.wts.edu/~vpoythress/nt123/presentn/EasyNotes/1N6aModr.pdf ·...
Transcript of B. Historical-Critical Methodcampus.wts.edu/~vpoythress/nt123/presentn/EasyNotes/1N6aModr.pdf ·...
B. Historical-Critical Method
Evaluating modern scholarship
Unless otherwise indicated, all English Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Copyright (c) 2006 Vern S. Poythress. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the next slides and at<http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/fdl.html>.The clipart embedded within the slides is from various sources, primarily from MS Office clipart gallery, Corel Clip-Art from CD-ROM Clipart, Symbols & Flics, which was part of Corel Draw 3.0, and Corel Megagallery, which came with Corel Draw 8. I have tried to make sure that the clipart can be freely copied and modified, but it is not itself subject to the GNU Free Documentation License. Likewise photos are from various sources, primarily Corel Megagallery. Except when the photos are my own, they are not subject to the GNU Free Documentation License.
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Reading Assignments
● Optional:– Marshall, New Testament Interpretation
11-18.– Rise of historical-critical method,
Berkhof, Principles of Biblical Hermeneutics 28-39.
Definitions● Key term: “historical-critical.”● To many scholars it mean careful research.● Antisupernaturalism affects the mainstream.● “Historical-critical” includes antisupernaturalism.
Definitions● The key term is “historical-critical.”● To many within the mainstream of scholarship,
it connotes simply careful, controlled scholarly research.
● But since the Reformation a long history of antisupernaturalism affects this mainstream.
● At Westminster, “historical-critical” denotes the dominant framework of 19th and 20th century biblical research, including the presuppositions of an antisupernaturalistic worldview.
Antisupernaturalism
● Ernst Troeltsch’s principles of historical investigation.– Criticism. Only probabilistic judgments.– Analogy. Present and past are alike.– Correlation. Closed continuum of causes.
History is brute fact, without miracle.
Common but erroneous.
Antisupernaturalism● Summarized in Ernst Troeltsch’s view of
principles of historical investigation.– Criticism. Only probabilistic judgments.– Analogy. Present and past are alike.– Correlation. Closed continuum of
causes.
Assumes history is brute fact, without miracle.Common but
erroneous.
Historicism
● “Historicism” is antisupernaturalism plus recording pure objective facts.
antisupernatural “objective”
historicism
Historicism
● “Historicism” combines Troeltsch’s antisupernaturalism with the view that historians should record facts with pure objectivity.
antisupernatural “objective”
historicism
Main Critical Tools
LUKE• Text criticism
copies
• Source criticism written sources
• Form criticismoral sources
• Redaction criticism change
Potential of Critical Tools
● Text criticism valuable for autograph.● All others involve legitimate questions.● Useful for apologetics.● Reconstruct OT/NT environment
(a contribution to “introduction”).
Potential of Critical Tools
● Text criticism is justified by our focus on the autograph.
● All others involve theoretically legitimate questions expressing human curiosity.
● Useful now and then for apologetics.● Reconstruct OT/NT environment
(a contribution to “introduction”).
Problems with Critical Tools
● Highly speculative.● Skeptical because of antisupernaturalism.● False principles of reconstruction.● Even if they worked, so what?
Problems with Critical Tools
● Highly speculative.● In practice, overly skeptical because of
antisupernaturalism.● In practice, using false principles of
reconstruction.● Even if they worked, would they pay off?
The meaning of a text is what it says, not the history of its origin.
Irrelevance of Sources
● The meaning of a text is what it says, not the history of its origin.
Read it!
C. Situationist and Subjectivist Hermeneutics
1. The Motive:Reaction to Rationalism
The Road to Reaction
Enlightenment rationalism
objectivism;“scientific” study
crushing mechanism
stifling persons
Beastmotif
react!
Modern Subjectivism
I am free (unrestrained), above lawirrationalism;Harlot motif
free meaning:reader creates
free ethics:existential
free truth:relativism
freereligion:whatever
works
Sounds familiar.
2. Marxism
including liberation theology
Variations of Marxism
● Classic Marxism (Cuba)● Theology of liberation● Political correctness movement
Not yet dead.
Marxism as Compassionate and Zealous for Justice
● Looking for suffering minorities and socially and economically disadvantaged people
● Looking at ways in which the powerless are exploited by those in power
Marxism as Counterfeit
● Theology● Sin● Gospel● Church● Deliverance● Consummation● God
● Dialectical materialism● Economic oppression● Marxist call to workers● Communist party● Communist revolution● Communist utopia● Abstract laws of
history; “humanity”
Marxist Biblical Interpretation
● Antithesis: “hermeneutic of suspicion” sees economic motives, not meaning.– Rejects opponents’ arguments a priori,
because they have wrong motives.● Common grace: impose Marxist motifs on
all literature.
Marxist Biblical Interpretation
● Antithesis: “hermeneutic of suspicion” examines economic motives behind texts, rather than straightforward meaning.– Rejects opponents’ arguments a priori,
because they have wrong motives.● Common grace: impose Marxist motifs on
all literature.
Marxist Epistemological Release
truths of history
blocked by ideology(corporate “sin”)
illumination ofcommunist “gospel”
Now I cancritique
ideology.
Marxist Epistemological Dilemma
truths of history
blocked by ideology(corporate “sin”)
illumination ofcommunist “gospel”
universal ideologysupposed enlightenmentmasks new oppression
Now I cancritique
ideology.
So Ican seizecontrol.
Marxist Ethical Satisfaction
● Identification with a cause
● Purpose of “salvation”● Exhilaration in superior
understanding
● Righteousness in commitment to justice– righteousness by
works
● Alienation● Meaninglessnes
s● Disorientation
from multiple views
● Guilt over privilegeWatch out!
Ethical Bankruptcy
● Ultimacy of material universe (god).● Any ethics?● Historical law worthy of allegiance?
– Fight against it, as existentialists?● Man, chance protoplasm, worthy of
allegiance?
Ethical Bankruptcy
● Ultimacy of material universe (god).● So where do we get any ethics at all?● Why should impersonal historical law be
worthy of my allegiance?– Why not just as well fight against it, as
existentialists propose to do?● Why is man worthy of allegiance, if he is a
chance product of protoplasm?
Theology of Liberation
● Finds liberation in the Bible.● Marxism as tool for social ills.● Biblical liberation for Marxist “sins.”● Marxism distorts biblical teaching.
(find Marxist motifs anywhere).
Theology of Liberation
● Finds liberation motifs in the Bible.● Uses Marxism as the fundamental tool for
analyzing social ills.● Applies biblical liberation to Marxist
“sins.”● In the process, Marxist counterfeits distort
biblical teaching. As with generic Marxism, it can find Marxist motifs anywhere.
Political Correctness as Variation
● Analyze by gender, race, economic class.● Restructure society to achieve righteousness.● “Hermeneutics of suspicion.”● Ethical self-righteousness.
Political Correctness as Variation
● Analyze people, movements, communication, etc., in terms of membership in social classes: gender, race, economic class
● Restructure society to achieve righteousness● “Hermeneutics of suspicion”● Ethical self-righteousness
3. Feminism
Feminism as Compassionate
● Concern for women's value and distinctiveness
Feminism Parallel to Correctness
● Specializes political correctness to gender.● Analysis by classes of male and female.● Deliverance through alteration of power.● Appeals to compassion for the underdog.● Evaluates texts for class motives.
Feminism Parallel to Correctness
● A specialization of political correctness to the issue of gender.
● Analysis by class membership, specifically now the classes of male and female.
● Deliverance through alteration of power relations.
● Appeals to compassion for the underdog.● Evaluates texts on the basis of class motives.
Feminism as Counterfeit
● Egalitarianism● Oppression of women● Maleability of gender● Egalitarians● Remove past stereotypes
remove authority● Universal freedom● Humanity
● Theology● Sin● Gospel● Church● Deliverance
● Consummation● God
4. Evaluation
Positive Aspects
● Identify some real sins.● Unconscious sins and corporate sinful
ideologies.– Sins against the weak unnoticed.
● Asks new questions:notices new aspects.
● All are in God’s image.
Positive Aspects● Identify some real sins.● Promote awareness of unconscious sins and
corporate sinful ideologies, including what takes place among Christians.– Sins against the weak tend to go unnoticed.
● Asks new questions of texts and leads to noticing new aspects and new details.
● Egalitarianism feeds on the truth that all people are created in God’s image and deserve respect.
Negative Aspects
● Misidentifies sin.● False way of salvation.● Reads what is not there.● Rebels against differences:
age, personality, sex, wealth, skills, culture, giftedness, and status in authority.
Negative Aspects
● Misidentifies some things as sin.● Offers false, easy way of salvation.● Can read into texts what is not there.● Egalitarianism rebels against the many
differences that God has ordained: age, personality, sex, wealth, skills, culture, giftedness, and status in authority.
Mystery of Differences
● Intellectuals deny nonrational difference.
God
in authority
under authority
Arbitrary!Oppressive!
Unjust!
Mystery of Differences
● Intellectuals lack a rational bottom for differences, and so want their disappearance.
God
in authority
under authority
Arbitrary!Oppressive!
Unjust!
Appeal for Relief
● Everyone is guilty about sex and money.● Everyone has been sinned against.● Sin is deep, painful, and complex.● Promise simple relief:
– “Let us solve your problem.”Tempting.
Appeal for Relief
● Everyone is guilty about sex and money.● Everyone has been sinned against.● Our entanglement with sin in these areas is
deep, painful, and complex.● Promises of simple relief are attractive.
– “Let us, the elite, take the problem off your hands. Let the government decide who gets the money and who has what sexual privileges.”
Tempting.
Particular False Solutions
● Strong husbands dominate● weak abdicate leadership.● Strong wives push “rights”● weak just conform.
Eph. 5:22-33 and Matt. 20:25-28 advocate Christ-like servanthood. Destroys selfishness.
Particular False Solutions
● Strong husbands dominate● weak abdicate leadership.● Strong wives push “rights”● weak just conform.
Eph. 5:22-33 and Matt. 20:25-28 advocate being a servant after the model of Christ. This destroys the selfishness and idolatry in false solutions.
Breaking Chauvinism and Egalitarianism in the Family
God is Husband to Israel Hosea
Christ is Husband to church Eph. 5:23, 32
Husband is head in love
Eph. 5:22-33
marriage expresseslove, not domineering
or identity of roles
Breaking Chauvinism and Egalitarianism in the Church
God is Father to the Son
God is Father to saints
church is family of God 1 Tim. 3:15
family has fathers (elders)1 Tim. 2:11-15; 3:1-7
family expresseslove, not
identity of roles
God-centeredsalvation.
5. Postmodern Contextualism
Features of Contextualism
● Humans dependent on language and culture● Inaccessible transcendent truth● Solution to cultural conflicts by banishing
dogmatism
Features of Contextualism
● Humans dependent on language and culture: we think we know because of linguistic and cultural training
● Inaccessible transcendent truth: we experience reality only through the grid of language and culture
● Solution to cultural conflicts by banishing dogmatism
Positive Desires in Contextualism
● No snap judgments about others.● No forced conformity for other individuals
or cultures.● Desire for freedom for differences.● Relief from oppressive power.
Epistemology:Frame's Square for God's Word
1
2
3
4
Frame, Doctrine of the Knowledge of God, p. 14.
clear(presence)
authoritative(meaning, control)
inaccessible
reader-controlled
Postmodern Contextualism as Counterfeit
● Prison of finiteness● Dogmatism● Tolerance● Postmodern gnostics● Dogma demoted to
opinion● Universal peace● Humanity
● Theology● Sin● Gospel● Church● Deliverance
● Consummation● God
Evaluation
● God absent● Sin excused as finiteness● Individual free to create
his own morality● Clarity labeled dogmatism● Authority labeled
oppression
● Finiteness● Sin● Corporate aspect● Diversity in
individuals and cultures
Positive NegativeNotices:
Central Challenge
modernism postmodern Christian
● universal rationalism (one)
● human sameness
● oppression from reason
● reason within local culture (many)
● human differences
● freedom to recreate man
● divine reason (one and many)
● same and different in the body
● freedom under God
D. Dispensationalism
Is a dispensationalist approach correct? How may we learn from it? How do we talk to those holding this approach?
Reading on Dispensationalism● Required:
– Poythress, Understanding Dispensationalists– Ryrie, Dispensationalism chap. 5
● Optional:– Allis, Prophecy and the Church, chap. 2 (16-54)
(dispensational hermeneutics)– Fairbairn, Interpretation of Prophecy– note Blaising and Bock on progressive
dispensationalism
E. Typology
Reading Assignment on Typology
● Required:– Clowney, Preaching and Biblical
Theology 98-112– Vos, Biblical Theology, the part of chap.
8 on typology, 161-172 (1948) or 143-155 (1975).
1. Bibliography of Typology
● Fairbairn, Patrick. The Typology of Scripture (classic).
● Davidson, Richard M. Typology in Scripture, 1981.
● Meek, James A. “Toward a Biblical Typology,” Th.M. thesis, WTS, 1981.
2. Definitions of Key Terms
Analogy
● Robertson: “similarity of circumstances.”● “likeness of persons, events, places, etc.”● A recurrent principle in redemptive history.
• Does not require NT fulfillment.• Illustrations:
–Compare Gen. 50:20 to Acts 2:23–Heb. 11
truth
symbol
Symbolism
● Robertson: “A material represen-tation of redemptive truth.”
● “An earthly representation of divine truth.”● Has meaning at the time.● Illustration: manna symbolizes God’s daily
care.
Type
● Robertson: “a prophetical embodiment of redemptive truth anticipating the history and consummation of God’s purposes”
● “A symbol pointing to a fulfillment”
truth
symbol
Truthfulfilled• Illustration:
the tabernacle
The Tabernacle as a Type
truth
symbol
Truthfulfilled
tabernacleas tent dwelling
God dwellswith his people God dwells
with usthrough Christ
Terms in Typology
symbol
Truthfulfilled
= “type”
= “antitype”
= typicalrelation
study of the whole = typology
Prophecy
● Robertson: “verbal or enacted prediction”● … in connection with contemporary
preaching– OT prophets were divine messengers– but in popular thinking, “prophet”
connotes prediction
Allegorization
● Robertson: “Accidental, incidental, or artificial relationships”
● “Finding extra symbolic meaning through accidental, incidental, or artificial relationships”
item leap extra meaning
• Illustration: frankincense, gold, and myrrh standing for the Trinity Where did
he get that?
Allegory
● “A fictional narrative with correspondences between two spheres”
● Illustration: Judges 9:8-15; Luke 15:3-7● Do not confuse with “allegorization.”
Allegorization treats all as allegory.
Allegory
● “A fictional narrative with correspondences between two spheres”
● Illustration: Judges 9:8-15; Luke 15:3-7● Do not confuse with “allegorization.”
One main method of allegorization is treating all the Bible as if it were allegory.
Evaluation
● Distinctions are useful in appreciating diversity.
● But boundaries are fuzzy.● Categories can be stretched into perspectives.
Evaluation
● The foregoing distinctions are useful in appreciating the diversity of biblical genres.
● But boundaries are fuzzy.● Some categories can be used as
perspectives on the whole.
3. Principles for Interpreting Types
An Example: Sacrifices
animalsacrifice
substitutefor sin
sym
bol
ism
Christ is thefinal substitute
for sinfulfillment
you receivethe benefitof Christ
app
li catio ntypology
Clowney’s Triangle of Typology
symbol
truthsy
mb
olis
m
1
final Truth
typology
fulfillment2
you receivethe benefitof Truth
app
li catio n3
Avoiding the False Routes
symbol
truth final Truth
you receivethe benefitof Truth
typology
fulfillmentsy
mb
olis
m app
li catio nmoralism
allegorization
avoidshort-cutting
Christ
Step 1: What Did It Mean Then?
● What did it symbolize then?
symbol
truth
sym
bol
ic
refe
ren
ce
1
Attend tocontext.
Step 1: What Did It Mean Then?
● What did it symbolize then? What was the symbolic significance at the time when God first introduced this item?
symbol
truth
sym
bol
ic
refe
ren
ce
1
Attend tocontext.
Illustration of Step 1 (Truth)
● What did it symbolize then?
manna
God gives food
sym
bol
ic
refe
ren
ce
1
Attend tocontext.
Illustration of Step 1 (Truth)
● What did it symbolize then? What was the symbolic significance at the time when God first introduced this item?
manna
God gives food
sym
bol
ic
refe
ren
ce
1
Attend tocontext.
Step 2: Go Forward in History
● What does it anticipate?
truth final, fulfilledTruth
in Christ2
history of revelation
God's plandevelops.
Step 2: Go Forward in History
● What greater manifestation of truth did it embody and anticipate? (Look at context.)
truth final, fulfilledTruth
in Christ2
history of revelation
God's plandevelops.
Illustration of Step 2 (Fulfill)
● What does it anticipate?
God gives food Christ isthe final
Spiritual food2
history of revelation
God's plandevelops.
Step 3: Apply to Us
● How do we benefit?
final, fulfilledTruth
in Christ
app
li catio n benefitto you
3
Writtenfor us!
Step 3: Apply to Us
● How do we benefit from participating in the fulfillment in union with Christ?
final, fulfilledTruth
in Christ
app
li catio n benefitto you
3
Writtenfor us!
Illustration of Step 3 (Apply)
● How do we benefit?
Christ isthe final
spiritual food
app
li catio n you eat Christ
3
Writtenfor us!
Illustration of Step 3 (Apply)
● How do we benefit from participating in the fulfillment in union with Christ?
Christ isthe final
spiritual food
app
li catio n you eat Christ
3
Writtenfor us!
An Exercise: Lights in the Lampstand
lights in thelampstand
sym
bol
ism
fulfillment
app
li catio ntypology
Ex. 25:37
1
2
3
An Exercise: Lights in the Lampstand
lights in thelampstand
sym
bol
ism
fulfillment
app
li catio ntypology
Ex. 25:37
1
2
3
Step 4: How Does Fulfillment Illumine the Earlier Stages?
● Fulfillment illumines the earlier.
symbol
final, fulfilledTruth
in Christ
4 Put it alltogether.
Step 4: How Does Fulfillment Illumine the Earlier Stages?
● See how fulfillment gives significance to what is vague at an earlier point.
symbol
final, fulfilledTruth
in Christ
4 Put it alltogether.
Illustration of Step 4 (More)
● Fulfillment illumines the earlier.
symbol
Christ isthe final
spiritual food
4
Food and sacrificeand priest in one!
Put it alltogether.
Step 5: Deepen the Earlier Stage
● More significance in the original?
symbol
truth
sym
bol
ic
refe
ren
ce
enhance-ment
5
God knew.
Step 5: Deepen the Earlier Stage
● Does the fulfillment help us to notice more detailed significance in the original setting?
symbol
truth
sym
bol
ic
refe
ren
ce
enhance-ment
5
God knew.
Illustration of Step 5 (Deepen)
● More significance in the original?
manna
God gives food
sym
bol
ic
refe
ren
ce
daily, fromheaven, sufficient
5
God knew.
Illustration of Step 5 (Deepen)
● Does the fulfillment help us to notice more detailed significance in the original setting?
manna
God gives food
sym
bol
ic
refe
ren
ce
daily, fromheaven, sufficient
5
God knew.
Step 6: Trace Beginning and End
● Trace from creation to consummation.
truth Truth
to creation
6
to consum-mation
6
Fulfillment already holds,and is yet to come.
Wide scope
Step 6: Trace Beginning and End
● Trace the truth back to creation and forward to consummation.
truth Truth
to creation
6
to consum-mation
6
Fulfillment already holds,and is yet to come.
Wide scope
Illustration of Step 6(Beginning and End)
● Trace from creation to consummation.
food Food
tree of life
6
to MarriageSupper
6
Fulfillment already holds,and is yet to come.
Wide scope
Illustration of Step 6(Beginning and End)
● Trace the truth back to creation and forward to consummation.
food Food
tree of life
6
to MarriageSupper
6
Fulfillment already holds,and is yet to come.
Wide scope
Step 7: Distinctiveness
● Note distinctiveness of each epoch.
dissimilarities
Step 7: Distinctiveness
● Reflect on the overall distinctiveness of each epoch in its embodiment of the truth.
dissimilarities
Illustration of Step 7 ( Distinct)
● Distinctiveness of each epoch.
dissimilarities
Bread for nationin wilderness/world
Illustration of Step 7 ( Distinct)
● Reflect on the overall distinctiveness of each epoch in its embodiment of the truth.
dissimilarities
Bread for nationin wilderness/world
Limits of Typology
● No new doctrine or predictions.● Because:
– Christ is not hidden but revealed! (We are not gnostics.)
– Shadow is less full than fulfillment.– One needs context to control analogy.
Sanity
Limits of Typology
● Do not make new doctrine or predictions.● Because:
– In NT, Christ is not hidden but revealed! (We are not gnostics.)
– The shadow, as shadow, is less full than its fulfillment.
– One needs context to establish and control the directions of analogy.
Sanity
4. Multifaceted Imagery
Tabernacle as Multifaceted
taber-nacle
heaven
Israelitetents
Eden
eschatologicalhope built in
Christ consum-mation
church
individual’s bodyRich
David and Goliath as Multifaceted
Israelitesoldiers
divine warriorin heaven
fighton earth
Adam asrepresentative
seed ofwoman
exodus
eschatologicalhope built in
Christ
individual
Eph. 6:10-20
consum-mationvictory
Isa. 27:1;51:9-11
church
Daniel and Lions (Daniel 6)
Jews incaptivity
Babylon aslion kingdom
lionson earth
seed ofwoman
Adam asrepresentative
ruler
exodus
consum-mationvictory
Christ
church
individual
eschatologicalhope built in
Significant
Maxims on Typology
● 1-1 correspondences miss multifaceted relations.
● Note the superiority of the antitype.● NT in relation to OT,
not NT instead of OT.● A sermon is not a lecture.
Maxims on Typology
● 1-1 line-ups of type and antitype may miss multifaceted relations.
● Note the superiority of the antitype and the insufficiency of the type.
● Allegorization and forced typology preach the NT instead of the OT, rather than NT in relation to the OT.
● Do not turn a sermon into a biblical-theological lecture.
5. Principles for Interpreting Analogies
An Example: Calling on God
people of Enosh
principleof callingon God
gener
alize
Christ callingon God
fulfillment
you callon Godin Christ
application
Gen. 4:26
analogy
Common Principle
particularinstance
commonprinciple
gener
alize1
fulfillmentin Christ
fulfillment
2
you actin Christ
application3
analogy
Step 1: What Was the Principle?● What common principle did it express
then?
Attend tocontext.
particularinstance
commonprinciple
gener
alize1
Illustration of Step 1 (Principle)
Attend tocontext.
Lamech'svengeance
seekvengeance
or not
gener
alize1
● What common principle did it express then?
Gen. 4:24
Step 2: Go Forward to Fulfillment● What does it anticipate in Christ?
God's plandevelops.
commonprinciple
Christ'sfulfillment
fulfillment
2
Illustration of Step 2: Fulfillment● What does it anticipate in Christ?
God's plandevelops.
seekvengeance
or not
Christ leavesvengeance
to God
fulfillment
2
Phil 2:8; 1Pet 2:23
Step 3: Apply to Us● How do we benefit?
Writtenfor us!
fulfillmentin Christ
you actin Christ
application3
Illustration of Step 3: Apply● How do we benefit?
Writtenfor us!
Christ leavesvengeance
to God
you leavevengeance
to God
application3Rom 12:19